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UChicago Medicine and Misericordia Heart of Mercy have partnered to highlight the need for increased funding to provide compassionate care for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities and to expand neuroscience research.

Legendary football coach Mike Ditka is joining the Chicago Tribune, UChicago Medicine and Misericordia Heart of Mercy to raise awareness about the need for increased funding to support care for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities and to expand neuroscience research into the causes of epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease and other disorders affecting the brain.

For more than 35 years, Ditka has been a loyal friend and supporter of Misericordia and its residents, including Terry M., known around the campus as the “Mayor of Misericordia.” "The residents of Misericordia have an opportunity to live an extraordinary life," Ditka said. "And the care and love they get is unbelievable."

I felt God's presence. I felt that this was God's work. And I knew that I would never, never have to do it alone. And from the day I walked in there, the right people have always been in the right place at the right time.

I'm in awe, just in awe. I don't think there's a human explanation. I really feel God is using us to witness to the world that there's still so many good and generous people who want to make a difference and found their way to Misericordia to make that difference.

Boy, I love Misericordia. Of course I do.

Why is that?

Because I live there. I've been there for 23 years of my life. And it's a good place to go.

I think there is a genuine love of the residents here. I think people feel it. I've has people say to me over and over again that "I come on campus. And I get a different feeling." There's just a spirit about the place.

The mission of Misericordia is to support and share life with children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. What we're trying to do here is make sure that they have the highest quality of life possible, that they're as independent as possible, and that we are very much a part of the Chicago community, the Misericordia community. And we're just trying to make sure that they are working, have work opportunities, have recreational opportunities, therapy opportunities. Anything that they might need we're trying to provide for them. And then, again, just make sure that they have the highest quality of life.

The reason why I come here every day is to enjoy both seeing the residents here do something different and get better, but also just to know that I can interact with them and be a part of their life.

Some of our babies that had Down syndrome still have Down syndrome, but are now experiencing dementia, memory loss, dementia, and Alzheimer's. And could you imagine if we had to send them away? And it's now to the forefront because of medicine, because of the University of Chicago, that we know more about Alzheimer's. We know more about dementia. And we know more about memory loss. And of course, it's going to impact all of us. But the phenomenon with our residents is that people with Down syndrome, and we're just learning this, because they're living longer, are early-onset memory loss, dementia, and Alzheimer's.

Still to this day, most neurologic conditions can't be cured, although some can. Increasingly, more will be. We have to focus on how do we manage conditions that are now actually becoming lifelong conditions rather than those that could cause people to die young.

So we make everything ourselves from start to finish here. So from the wet clay to the stickers, the residents are participating in every part of the process. So it's really exciting for them to make something and then see that it's living in someone's home and being used by people because most of what we make is functional.

And when I'm done with this, this is going to be the next piece [INAUDIBLE] auction [INAUDIBLE].

You can't change what is. But you can certainly make-- you can make their lives as comfortable and as good and as meaningful as possible. I think the experience here has been tremendous. When you watch-- I watched some of these while they were [INAUDIBLE]-- they were children. And now they're adults. And they're still here. And the care they get and the love they get is unbelievable.

Every step of a job a resident is able to help with something, from scooping, weighing, measuring. Even we have a daily UPS pickup. And our UPS guy is flexible and comes at a specific time because it's when it would be convenient for residents to assist with bringing stuff down to the UPS truck.

It's opened my eyes and enriched my life personally on a personal level. And plus, I'm technically the boss. I walk in. And I get cheered. So why wouldn't you want to come here? It's just a happy place. And on top of that, the work that's done here is A-plus.

We are a compassionate place. Typically, compassion has been defined as a relationship between the healer and the wounded. At Misericordia, everyone-- the staff, the volunteers, everyone involved with Misericordia-- know that compassion truly means a relationship between equals.

Mike Ditka and Friends

When legendary Chicago football coach Mike Ditka met Sister Rosemary Connelly in 1982, his life was forever altered. Connelly, a Catholic Sister of Mercy, is the executive director of Misericordia, a residential care facility for more than 600 children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She invited Ditka to tour Misericordia’s campus, and what he saw inspired his longtime loyal support and friendship. During a recent visit, Ditka spent time visiting with Misericordia residents, including twins Paul P., left, and Patrick P.

Harvesting a Dinner Salad

In Greco Gardens, residents work with master gardener Sharon Metzger to grow flowers, plants and vegetables through both an extensive hydroponic indoor growing system and an outdoor garden. Residents take most of the food back to their homes to enjoy with meals. They also grow zucchini for bread made in the Hearts & Flour Bakery and flowers sold in the Heartstrings Gift Shop. The 65 residents who work at Greco Gardens are involved in the entire growth cycle, as the plant goes from seed to salad or sale. “They enjoy seeing their hard work turn into something,” says Bobby Davis Jr., a Direct Support Professional.

Creativity on Display

About 100 residents work in the Art Department, where they create ceramics, paintings, self-portraits and more. Some of the colorful pieces brighten buildings and hallways throughout the campus. The artists are paid for their work, with commissions coming from art sold in the Heartstrings Gift Shop and artwork auctioned off at some of the many events benefiting Misericordia. One of Misericordia’s signature fundraising events, The Artist in All, is held each spring at the Art Institute of Chicago.

Reviving Memory with Music

The Graceful Living program in the Holbrook Center serves older residents who are starting to show signs of memory loss, withdrawing or slowing down, or who have Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. High-energy programming aims to keep them active and connected physically, mentally, socially and spiritually. Director Victoria Young incorporates music and cultural imagery from the decades that resonate the most with residents. “We do a lot of music because it helps with language skills and brings back memories of their lives,” she says. Resident Heidi B. is singing a karaoke “Footloose” from the 1980s.

Serving the Community

Resident Anne P. helps prepare some of the dishes for serving at the Greenhouse Inn, Misericordia’s on-campus restaurant. The restaurant is open to the public Tuesday to Friday for lunch and Sunday for brunch. Some days, visitors arrive by the busload to enjoy the hot buffet, salad bar and homemade sweets. Residents help prepare drinks, serve desserts, fill ketchup bottles and restock the buffet. “Working here makes our residents feel so independent, and they often take the skills they learn here out into in the community,” says Lily Devey, who has managed the Greenhouse Inn for 21 years.

Sensory Experience

Toddler Natalie C. gazes at physical therapist Rich Conti as he helps her exercise to stretch her muscles at the Mother Catherine McAuley Residence — a skilled nursing facility that offers a warm and nurturing environment for children and adults with profound disabilities and complex medical issues. The facility features classrooms, playrooms, a hydrotherapy area and a high-tech sensory room designed to engage residents with light, sound, music, touch and aromatherapy.

Care, Compassion, Community

Located on a beautiful 31-acre campus on Chicago’s North Side, Misericordia offers a community of care that maximizes potential for persons with mild to profound intellectual and developmental disabilities, many of whom are also physically challenged. Through a spectrum of residential options on campus and in the community, and with a wide variety of programs, Misericordia aspires for each individual to live as independently as possible in the highest level of community integration feasible. Misericordia serves children and adults from diverse racial, religious and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Staying Fit

Misericordia residents work out, relax and recuperate in the Moore Aquatic and Fitness Center pool. They enjoy the warm, soothing water and the interaction with aides who provide personal attention and encouragement. On the other side of the facility, residents work on fitness goals in a room filled with treadmills, exercise bikes and weight machines. “I love actively engaging with the residents and helping them reach their goals,” says MaryAnn Zielke-Allen, Supervisor of Pool and Fitness, who has been at Misericordia for more than 12 years.

Back Home After a Busy Day

After his afternoon shift seating guests in the Greenhouse Inn — and tempting them with the dessert cart — Ryan J. relaxes with his computer in the apartment he shares with four men in the Shannon Apartments on Misericordia’s campus. Like a typical bedroom, his space is adorned with some of his favorite things, including family photos from vacations and pennants from his siblings’ colleges.